Lee E. Christensen May 10, 2024

Lee E. Christensen, 74, returned to his heavenly home on March 6, 2021.  With his loving wife, Jeanene, by his side at every possible moment, he both fought and passed away with the simple grace and dignity for which he was always known. 

Lee was born on December 29, 1946, in Payson, Utah to Alden and Nelda Christensen, and quickly became the pride and joy as the baby of the family.  He was raised in Spanish Fork and spent his youth playing baseball, racing cars, and helping on the family farm.  He graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1965, and began several years of higher education which culminated in earning several degrees from Brigham Young University, eventually becoming Dr. Lee E. Christensen.  He only paused a couple times during that educational climb:  once to serve an LDS mission in Sydney, Australia, and once when a young blonde from Salem named Jeanene changed the course of his future.  Lee and Jeanene were married on December 17, 1970 in the LDS Salt Lake Temple, and began a love story that would grow, get better year-after-year, and be the kind of relationship that is an inspiration and an example for all to emulate.

Lee served in the United States Air Force in both Texas and Wyoming before settling down on the family farm in Mapleton, literally building the home board-by-board and brick-by-brick himself.  Lee worked tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder, serve in his church callings, and manage the family farm, most days needing to do all from early in the morning to late into the night.  He and Jeanene added four young children to the home, and quickly the new title of ‘dad’ seemed to become his favorite.  Days were filled with business suits and ball caps, podiums and pastures, recitals and a little rest!  Lee’s business endeavors eventually took the family away from Utah with stops in Dayton, Ohio and Dallas, Texas before settling for good in Houston, Texas.  As the children all grew and began families of their own, Lee became a corporate training executive and finished his career with ExxonMobil retiring in 2016.  With a longing for a return to the farming and country life of his youth, Lee and Jeanene added a second home in Whitefish, Montana that brought Lee much joy in his retirement.  Once again, things like fixing a fence, building a barn, and minding a horse were what started the day very early and only ended in time to go on an evening date with Jeanene.

Lee was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served in many priesthood leadership positions over the years, including as a Stake President and eventually as Patriarch.  His personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and his willing and unapologetic service to others were well known.  It was not uncommon to see Lee routinely find the broken and lame to offer his comfort and a conversation.  His simple and Christ-like example was on full display at all times and was no doubt what endeared people of all kinds to him; he was truly an authentic man of God.

Lee is survived by his wife of 50+ years, Jeanene (Thorpe) Christensen.  Theirs is the kind of love that made everyone smile and never got stale; Jeanene was unquestionably his ‘sweetheart’ since the day they first met.  He is also survived by his four children:  Tara Christensen of Coral Gables, Florida; Chris (Colleen) Christensen of Springboro, Ohio; Amy (Ben) Cosby of The Woodlands, Texas; and Alex (Nick) Vernon of Billings, Montana.  His 6 grandchildren were a source of much joy and each have ‘grandpa wisdom’ that they will cherish throughout their lives:  Maxwell Christensen, Isabelle Cosby, Olivia Cosby, Leo Vernon, June Vernon, and Ruby Vernon.  Lee was preceded in death by his parents Alden and Nelda Christensen, his brother Alden Junior Christensen, and his two sisters Donna Lou McClellan and Janice Healey; his reunion with each of them was certainly a celebration he was looking forward to and spoke about often.

Lee would have wanted to leave us all with some final quiet words of humility:  be kind and love one another, seek out ways to always be in the service of your fellowman, and live a life as a reflection of Jesus Christ.  He would have wished us all days ahead filled with some of his favorite things:  a ballgame on TV while sneaking in a nap, a fresh coat of wax making an old car look new, a hot dog being roasted outside over a fire, an old dog following every move just a few steps behind, a cheek-to-cheek slow dance to an old country song with Jeanene, and a baby-sized Baby Ruth!

Family and friends are invited to a memorial open house and celebration for Lee on Saturday, March 20, 2021, from 6:00-8:00pm at Walker Mortuary in Spanish Fork.  Private funeral and interment services will take place earlier that day.